MURDER AT KARIOI.

Taihape Daily Times, 25 February 1918, Page 4

MURDER AT KARIOI.

KILLED WHILE ASLEEP. What has every appearance of being a premeditated murder took place in a road contractors’ camp at Karioi, in the very early hours of last Sunday morning. The victim, Peter Larsen, is well-known in Taihape, and he was in town no later than last Friday. He was a fine specimen'’of a man, standing over six feet high. It is alleged that he and a fellow-workman namen Jack Robinson, took drink into the camp on Saturday, and that both men whiled away the night by playing cards. It is said that a quarrel arose over the cards, but the men parted and went to their respective beds. Sometime subsequently, when Larsen was asleep, it is alleged that Robinson got up and went to Larsen’s bed and struck him a blow on the bedel while asleep, apparently killing him Instantly, as there was no sign of a scuffle. The police were communicated with. Constables Annison, of Ohakune, and McGowan of Raetihi proceeded at once to Karioi, where they arrested Robinson, and charged him with the crime. They took accused to Ohakune, where he was brought before a magistrate and remanded till Tuesday.

An inquest was opened this morning before Mr. Pilkington, coroner, and adjourned till Tuesday. Detective Hollis, of Wanganui, passed through Taihape by the early train this morning on his way to Karioi to proseccte enquiries.